For a very reasonable price, you can deliver your luggage to your next accommodation on the following day (depending on the distance from place to place). For example, a bag from Tokyo can be delivered the next day to Kyoto for only 1,900 yen and 2,200 yen for Kyushu.

Bring your luggage to a "convenience store"(konbini). Takkyubin (indicated by a sticker depicting two black cats) offers delivery services from these stores.

Bring your luggage to the counter of Kuroneko Yamato (a delivery company that provides Takkyubin services) in your neighborhood. If you do not know where to find it, watch for a delivery man in a green and yellow uniform wearing acap and ask him. Kuroneko Yamato remains the country's largest delivery service, but there are others like Sagawa Express or Nittsu.

If you are staying in a hotel, employees will of course take care of all these steps for you. You can get them at the nearest konbini. Ask for a takkyubin no denpyo preferably "motobarai" (payable at time of shipment).

Locker Services

Airports, train stations and even large department stores offer locker services costing between 500 and 1000 yen. You will also find that there are usually many lockers and different sizes as well. For somewhere between 300 yen and 1,000 yen you can store your bags for one day (until midnight). One last thing: if you leave your luggage somewhere, like traveling on a train for example, do not despair. Objects are rarely stolen and recovering lost property is not uncommon. Do not hesitate to contact the place where you might have left you baggage.

Luggage locker at Osaka Station

If you get out Central Exit, make a right and walk toward Granvia Hotel(there's a signpost over your head). Then take a right here also and head along on the corridor 80meters or so. You'll find a 2storied grayish ferroconcrete buiding across from the driveway on your left. Take the escalator to the second floor; the checkroom is located just around the corner on the right-hand side. Male uniformed staff will take care of you. I may possibly be wrong, but as I recollect, they charge you 400 or 500yens per suitcase per day.

TIP 02 TRANSPORTATION

BY TRAIN

Trains in Japan

There is a large selection of trains in Japan required to travel from one region to another, but also to get around in cities. The three categories of trains that you will have to use on a trip to Japan include:

Shinkansen, the famous bullet train provides comfort and speed, for a very attractive price if you have the Japan Rail Pass . The Shinkansenallows - among others - the Kyoto-Tokyo routes, Tokyo-Hiroshima route and since March 2015 Tokyo to Kanazawa. A must!

JR trains: the former national railway company is now divided into regional entities, which each manage their own networks. If traveling in a single region, the Regional JR Pass is often the most economical alternative.

Private lines: they are extremely numerous in Japan and often offer a quality equivalent or better service than JR lines, often for a lower rate. Among the most prestigious are, for examples, the Hankyu train line that connects Kyoto and Osaka in just 45 minutes.

BY SUBWAY

Japanese Subway

All major Japanese cities have their own urban subway lines. Punctual, safe and never on strike the Japanese subway is the preferred mode of transportation for residents of large cities such as Tokyo.

Knowing how to use the subway in Tokyois essential when staying in the Japanese capital. The application Tokyo Metro can also help you navigate once there.

For longer stays in Tokyo, the purchase of prepaid cards such as the Pasmo which will save you considerable time when taking the subway.

There is also an unlimited pass for travelers that can be used for 1, 2 or 3 days: the Tokyo Subway Day Ticket for easy travel across the Tokyo subway network.

BY BUS

City buses are rarely used within large cities like Tokyo or Osaka, due to the excellent rail and metro network.

Instead, taking the night coach to different parts of Japan makes traveling moderately priced, while saving on the price of a night in a hotel. Perfect for smaller budgets!

Exchange your voucher for a JRP

To use the trains on the Japan Railways (JR) network, the voucher given to you at the time of purchase must be exchanged at a JR ticket office. The list of stations where you can exchange it is shown on your voucher. All the major stations in Japan and Tokyo in particular have a dedicated ticket office. ( rujuk info JRP di atas)

Using your Japan Rail Pass

The Japan Rail Pass means you don't need to buy tickets for every journey (except if you want to book a seat on a Shinkansen).

You therefore need to go through the free passage area staffed by the ticket inspector (and not through the gates). It is a good idea to have your passport with you as the ticket inspector may want to check that you are the Rail Pass holder.

Use the automatic ticket machines

For the metro (in Tokyo in particular) or on certain private train lines, you must buy your ticket from the automatic machines. The idea is to locate the amount necessary to go to the station that you are interested in, by looking at the large panels generally located to the top of the ticket machines. Then insert this amount in the ticket machine which will print your ticket. Each of these distributors is available in English.

Book your Shinkansen seat at a ticket counter

To book a seat on board a mainline train (Shinkansen), you need to ask for your ticket numbered in a 'JR Ticket Office' identifiable by the green signs. This booked seat is called 'Shiteiseki'. Of course, you can also take sit where you want: this is the "jiyuseki" system. Finally, since 2007 Japanese trains are all non-smoking, with the exception of some of the mainline trains which are equipped with smoking cars. The same rule applies in the station platforms.

Finding your train

The train number and destination are always shown in Japanese and Latin characters. On many platforms, floor markings show where the train doors are located. The trains stop exactly at the door marking location.

It is a good idea to queue to access the door as the trains do not stop for long. Additionally, seats are not booked in advance on local trains and the sooner you board, the better your chances of securing a seat. Don't hesitate to ask a traveller on the platform if the train you are waiting for is going to your destination.

Finally, be careful not to take a "Nozomi" train on the Tokyo-Nagoya-Kyoto-Hiroshima line. You must board the "Hikari" or "Kodama" which make a few extra stops.

Waiting for your train

There is a certain discipline involved in waiting for your train on a station platform in Japan: choose a queue (generally indicated by floor markings), and patiently wait behind the other passengers until you can board the car, quietly of course (we are in Japan after all). Silent mode your phone inside the train. Orang Jepun tak bercakap dalam train..sms jerrr.

Carrying your luggage

There is no porter service at Japanese stations. The major stations have escalators and lifts but the small stations only have steps. If you are going on a trip lasting one or two days, you can use the Takkyu-bin luggage-sending service for a modest fee to have your luggage delivered to your destination. (Rujuk info pasal luggage)

Example: You are departing from Kyoto for Tokyo and want to spend 2 nights in Takayama and Kanazawa. For these 2 nights you can keep a minimum amount in a bag and have your suitcase delivered to your hotel in Tokyo.

Using the automatic luggage locker

With the lockers you can stop for 2 or 3 hours in a town, take a tour and then continue your journey on the next train.
For example, departing from Kyoto on the Okayama route: you can only visit Himeji (2 ½ to 4 h) if you leave your luggage behind.

Most of the major stations have quite large lockers (sometimes in limited numbers however). It is easier to fit in 2 medium-sized bags than a large suitcase.
Small stations sometimes do not have lockers for large suitcases: it is better to have soft bags that be easily squashed down than rigid suitcases.

There are also traditional lockers with a service ending quite early in the evening.

The station as an information centre

Nearly all stations have a tourist office. There is plenty of literature (unfortunately this is often only available in Japanese) to help you discover places of interest in the town or the region. Employees often speak English and can help you make hotel bookings.

Places to eat at the station

The stations contain specialist stalls selling Ekiben or station bentos, the contents of which are often influenced by the local specialities. There are also many restaurants which are open non-stop and serve many types of food, with something to suit all tastes.

Leaving the station

Stations often have several exits and are often very large. Don't hesitate to ask a ticket inspector what exit to take for the place you want to go to.

In Kyoto, the central station is a complex with a very large luxury hotel (Granvia), a big store (Isetan) and a very big audiovisual product shop (BicCamera), an underground shopping centre, a very large Tourist Office, etc…

Bila Dah Masuk Train Pula (On The Trains)

Storing your luggage on the train

Unlike European trains, Japanese trains do not provide much space for large suitcases. Large cases can generally be stored behind the last seats at the start or end of the car. And your smaller items of luggage can of course be stored above your seat.

Finding the right spot on the train

When you are travelling in the daytime, consider using the train to take a tour.

This will give you untrammelled views of Mount Fuji when travelling to Tokyo from Kyoto, in particular if you are sitting on the left (which corresponds to seats in row E). Cepat! Cepat ! reserved your seat!
The same applies when travelling to Kanazawa from Kyoto to see Lake Biwa (sitting on the left).

On local trains and on certain Limited Express trains, the train driver's cabin is see-through and provides panoramic views of the landscape. This is the place to be.
For example, when crossing the inland sea from Honshu to Shikoku, the first 2 seats on the right behind the driver provide an impressive view of the inland sea.

Enjoying all the comforts of Japanese trains

All long-distance trains have comfortable reclining seats.
The seats can be turned round by 180°C; as well as enabling you to always be facing forwards, these seats will enable you to travel in a group easily by forming "squares".

The trains all have Western-style toilets and you can make telephone calls on most trains.
A smoking area is often available between the cars.

Avoiding peak times

Peak times in Japan are between 7 am and 9 am and 5 pm and 7 pm. Most trains are generally overcrowded at those times and make it very difficult to move around with large items of luggage.

Eating on board

You will never go hungry on a Japanese train. Major stations offer a wide range of bentos which often contain a local speciality.

Additionally, if you haven't had time to buy a bento, there is a regular trolley service in the cars (except for local trains). Enjoying a delicious ekiben while you watch the scenery go by is one of the highlights of the trip

The use of all trains operated by Japan Railways, that's more than 20,000 km of railways throughout Japan (except for certain high-speed "Nozomi" Shinkansen trains). This allows you to access the vast majority of tourist attractions from the North to the South of Japan, on the 4 main islands.

Any traveller who does not currently reside in Japan can use the Japan Rail Pass, regardless of his or her nationality. The Japan Rail Pass is a ticket specifically designed for non-Japanese travellers who desire to use regularly the train over a period of 1, 2 or 3 weeks. It allows all travellers with the “temporary visitor” status (less than 3 months long stay) to travel in Japan without limits.

You can buy a JR pass from our website or by visiting our office on 30 rue Ste Anne in Paris. The JRP is not sold in Japan, you must buy it before you leave. What is sold to you before leaving is a voucher that must be exchanged in Japan at the latest 3 months after it is issued. You must therefore buy your Japan Rail Pass at the earliest 3 months before your arrival in Japan. When you arrive in Japan, go to the JR information desk. They will exchange your coupon against the JR Pass, and you will have to decide on the date of first use of your pass.

Find the answers to all your questions about the Japan Rail Pass by asking our best advisors, specialists on Japan, and travel in a total peace of mind.

Children under 6 years old travel for free in the company of a Japan Rail Pass holder but do not have the right to their own seat. Children from 6 to 11 can travel with a children ticket. From 12 years old the child will need an adult ticket.

Any Japan Rail Pass ordered by noon is sent the same evening and should arrive the next day by FEDEX (please check out our delivery rates and times on our "Book your JR Pass" page). A Japan Rail Pass is created immediately in our office, in less than 15 minutes.

No, the national Rail Pass allows everything the Regional Passes permit. A simple arithmetical calculation shows that it is not usually worth adding a regional pass if you have a national pass. However there are some exceptions, for instance if you visit a specific region of Japan for several days. For example, the "Sanyo Pass" including access to Kansai airport and the cities of Nara and Himeji is recommended if you spend a week in Kyoto, instead of having a Japan Rail Pass. Please feel free to contact our travel agents if you have doubts about which ticket to order.

(1) if you are thinking about travelling between Tokyo and Kyoto and mostly stay in these two cities (for example arriving in Narita airport, and leaving Japan at the Kansai airport). It will cost more than a Tokyo-Kyoto one-way ticket. Also, the JR Pass cannot be used once in the city, except for the Yamanote line in the Japanese capital. Lastly, from Kyoto, you can go to Nara or Osaka with rail lines other than the JR for a reasonable price. In the city, taking a bus, walking or cycling are a must!

(2) if you stay in Tokyo or Kyoto during your stay, because a local pass that can be bought there is more economical

(3) if you stay in a region (Hokkaido, Kyushu) the local Passes sold there are more economical.

If you can see several attractions in one week thanks to the volume and punctuality of the trains in Japan, it's still the not the best way to fully enjoy your trip. If you plan to stay in Japan for more then ten days, the best approach is to spread your unmissable visits over your stay and add them according to your mood. In order to be as free as possible while doing so you should to get a 2 week Japan Rail Pass. If you are staying in Japan for 3 weeks you should get a 3 weeks long Japan Rail Pass as the price difference between a duration of 2 and 3 weeks is really worth it.

Children under 6 years old travel for free in the company of a Japan Rail Pass holder but do not have the right to their own seat. Children from 6 to 11 can travel with a children ticket. From 12 years old the child will need an adult ticket.

Any Japan Rail Pass ordered by noon is sent the same evening and should arrive the next day by FEDEX (please check out our delivery rates and times on our "Book your JR Pass" page). A Japan Rail Pass is created immediately in our office, in less than 15 minutes.

Japanese nationals are permitted to use the Japan Rail Pass and Kyushu Regional Rail Pass under certain strict criteria if they can provide the documents to prove their eligibility when they exchange the voucher for the pass. You can find more information here.

Booking is not an obligation and any non-reserved (and free) seat scan be occupied upon simple presentation of your Japan Rail Pass You can also book a seat without additional charges by contacting a travel service centre or a booking office (midori no madoguchi). Simply present your Japan Rail Pass and you will get a seat ticket.

Local trains authorised by the Japan Rail Pass and long distance trains are often very busy during rush hour (morning and evening). But they are also very frequent and in the case of a full train, you can usually wait for the next one a few minutes later.

Do not go through the gates (because you don't have a ticket) but show the controller your Japan Rail Pass. Once on the platform, you will easily find the instructions for finding your car. Find out our practical advice on this subject on our "practical tips" page.

The starting date is not necessarily the exchange date. For holders of a one week Japan Rail Pass, you must pay attention to the starting date. If you have a tight programme, it's better to spend a day than to "waste" a day.